Nashoba Regional boys basketball falls to Quabbin in playoff action

Wednesday

Feb 27, 2013 at 12:01 AMFeb 27, 2013 at 7:05 PM

At the half, the Nashoba Regional boys basketball team was ahead 42-28 and looked well on their way to advancing to the Division 2 Central quarterfinals. But a ferocious comeback by Quabbin in the third quarter, including a 15-2 run, pushed the Panthers to victory, 76-68.

Arick Wade/Correspondent

At the half, the Nashoba Regional boys basketball team was ahead 42-28 and looked well on their way to advancing to the Division 2 Central quarterfinals. But a ferocious comeback by Quabbin in the third quarter, including a 15-2 run, pushed the Panthers to victory, 76-68.

“I give credit to my guys,” said Nashoba head coach Danny Ortiz. “We fought all year, we just didn’t come up with enough points in the second half.”

The first quarter was a slugfest for both sides. Both teams started off sloppy, each turning the ball over six times in the first seven minutes. Bench play by Travis Macko (8 points, 6 rebounds) and Kevin Connelly (13 points, 8 rebounds) gave the Chieftains a spark and a 16-9 lead after one.

Nashoba’s Eric Demmer scored all eight of his points in the second quarter, which ignited a 9-0 run for the Chieftains. Jordan Edmonds (13 points, 8 rebounds) led the charge for the Chieftains on both sides throughout the game. However, the pesky Panthers kept themselves alive with second-chance points, a trend that would repeat throughout the night.

Led by Griffin Bennett (19 points) and Adam Majer (14 points), the Panthers caught fire in the third quarter, quieting the well-traveled Nashoba fan base. Nashoba’s Justin Pelletier’s third trey of the night slowed the momentum and put the Chieftains ahead, 58-56, entering the final quarter.

Quabbin’s basket early in the quarter gave them the lead, 60-58, and they never looked back. Edmond’s two free throws in the last minute pulled Nashoba within three, 70-67. Majer and Bennett had ice in their veins tonight, though, and made 10 consecutive free throws in the last two minutes, ending any chance of a comeback for Nashoba.

“We just didn’t come up big in the second half,” said Ortiz. “Quabbin executed off our mistakes and they made us pay for it.”